On 11 June 2026, the SOSPHERE project partners gathered in Labin, Croatia, for their second in-person meeting – a milestone moment to take stock of progress and look ahead to the next steps, which represent the core of our project.
The meeting opened with a warm welcome from the Deputy Mayor of Labin, followed by a recap of the project’s objectives and overall framework. The heart of the day was dedicated to the first results of the research carried out across the three pilot areas – Labin, Beltinci, and Treviso (Santa Bona) – aimed at mapping services of general interest and understanding the real needs of citizens, particularly older adults.
The findings offered a rich and nuanced picture. Across all three areas, common challenges emerged: fragmentation of services, limited coordination among providers, barriers to access (whether geographical, digital, or administrative) and a persistent gap between the formal availability of services and how citizens actually experience and reach them. At the same time, the research highlighted strong local networks, high perceived quality of services, and a genuine openness among citizens to new models of support, including the one-stop-shop approach that SOSPHERE is working to develop and test.
Partners then held a Steering Committee meeting, reviewing progress, confirming the project’s direction, and discussing next steps for the co-design and pilot phases.
And there is more good news: the SOSPHERE newsletter is coming soon! It will include a survey for stakeholders to share their views and contribute to the project. Stay tuned!